Everyone needs their carpets cleaned professionally at least once a year, however, carpet cleaners are a dime a dozen. You will set yourself apart from other companies by offering to clean carpets with 'green' ingredients. Since more and more of the general population have environmental allergies, they cannot have their carpets cleaned with regular commercial chemicals. These people are a huge untapped market that you would do well to take advantage of!

Another advantage to offering this service is that the ingredients used to clean carpets the natural way are more healthful for you. You will find that, compared to commercially prepared carpet cleaning solutions, natural alternatives are quite a bit cheaper too! You could charge about $10 per square yard!

What will you need to start your business? You will need a professional grade vacuum cleaner to clean out as much dirt and debris as possible before anything else is done to the carpets. You will also need a professional carpet-cleaning machine. You can find used (or 'pre-owned') steam carpet cleaning machine quite inexpensively online. Be sure to check with auction sites such as eBay and companies who buy salvage, overstock equipment in bulk, and sell them at a discount. As your business grows, you can upgrade your equipment.

You will also need a full array of the natural ingredients (and basic supplies) that you will use to remove stains and perform the actual cleaning of the carpets. These ingredients (and basic supplies) can include, but are not limited to: borax, cornmeal, baking soda, corn starch, talcum powder, white vinegar, dishwashing liquid, hydrogen peroxide, club soda, water, rags, sponges, paper towels, spray bottles, stiff bristled scrubbing brushes, and buckets.

Once you arrive at the property whose rugs you are there to clean, first access the state of the carpets. What are they made of? Are there special care directions on any of the throw rugs? Ask the owner for information on their carpets. Find out if there are any stubborn stains that will need special attention. Also, check for odors or pet problem areas. Be sure to have them sign a cleaning contract before you start. This contract should explain that not all stains could be removed without damaging the carpet, but that you will do your best to remove, any and all, stains with your natural products.

You will likely want to print up and circulate a brochure to explain to your potential customers the difference between common commercial cleaning products and natural ones. Explain the healthful benefits and the harmful effects of normal toxic chemicals on both the environment (disposal) and the people, and any pets, inhabiting the space.

Whom should you market your services to? Landlords of rental homes and rental apartments often need the carpets of a unit cleaned more often than once a year since they will need to professionally clean the carpets in a unit before the next tenant moves in. Be sure to network with local Realtors in both the residential and commercial property markets since they often recommend that a property's carpets be commercially cleaned before putting them on the market. A freshly cleaned carpet is significantly cheaper than replacing it!

Lastly, people will need to know who to call! You will likely want to advertise your services by running a visible advertisement in a local phone directory, list your business with an online business directory, and by printing up flyers and posting them in places where people with children and pets, and property owners are likely to visit. Among these places should be elementary schools and day cares. Be sure to include popular lunch places and coffee shops! Most post offices and grocery stores also have bulletin boards that they will allow you to place an advertisement on. Be sure to take advantage of any public bulletin boards in your immediate area to find the people who are looking for you and your services. In no time at all, you will have built up a large clientele base, many by word of mouth as they witness your professional services in action!

Resources:

http://www.perfectrug.com

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/floorcarpetcleaning

http://www.carpetcleaningcare.com

http://www.ehow.com/how_2262907_green-clean-carpets.html